Justice Clarence Thomas Delights Audiences at Ave Maria and Naples
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Published on Saturday, 05 February 2011 01:59
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas showed both a humorous, fun-living side to himself as well as a more serious, reflective side Friday in speeches in the Naples area.
Justice Thomas, who said he indulged in one of his hobbies of touring in a motor home by driving his RV from Washington to Florida, spoke at Ave Maria University Friday afternoon to students and faculty of both AMU and the Ave Maria University School of Law, and addressed a meeting of the Catholic business organization Legatus at the Ritz-Carleton Hotel in Naples Friday morning.
His talks and answers to questions touched on his 20 years on the Supreme Court, the importance of his Catholic faith, and a bit of his personal life. Before speaking at AMU, Justice Thomas talked and joked with students and university employees and in both appearances, he mingled with those attending, signed books and posed for photographs. In picture above left, Justice Thomas greeted by staff at the Ave Maria Visitors Center on his arrival. Below left, he signs a book for a Legatus member in Naples.
"I was really impressed with how down to earth he was," said AMU Board of Trustees Chair Michael Timmis, who brought his daughter, Bailey - a high school freshman at the Donahue Academy - to meet Justice Thomas. Right, Justice Thomas greeting sculptor Márton Váró, who is carving the marble bas-relief of The Annunciation on the oratory. At left in picture are AMU founder Tom Monaghan and Justice Thomas's wife, Virginia.
In response to questions at AMU about career choices, Justice Thomas said he never aspired to be a judge.
"I was minding my own business and President Bush appointed me," he said. Now, 20 years later, he said he was surprised to look around the justices' conference table recently and realize that he was the third most senior jurist on the Supreme Court. His time on the court has given him much greater perspective, he said.
"You get more of a panoramic view."
Nonetheless, he said, "I get called an activist because I believe we should follow the constitution, not the stuff we made up about it."
He urged the students to respect the courts, even if they disagree with their decisions.
"You want to be constructive," he said. "You can feel strongly without acting emotionally and being bitter and angry."
Common themes in both appearances were the importance of faith and being guided by wanting to "just do the right thing."
"I tell my law clerks every year," Justice Thomas said, "that pragmatism is not a principle. It's giving yourself the excuse to go along to get along."
In the end, he said, people need to be able answer the question asked at the end of the movie Saving Private Ryan: Have I been a good man? Have I led a good life?
Catholics, he said, should not be afraid to live their faith openly.
"Many people choose to hide their lights under a bushel basket," he said in reference to a Gospel passage.
"Our deeds are our most effective homilies, our most effective speeches."
He advised students to seek a balance between their careers and family life, saying that his own marriage of 24 years to his wife, Virginia, who was with him at both appearances, "has been a hoot."
Keep sight of what is important, he told the students at AMU.
"Don't lose your faith, don't lose your family, don't lose your friends. Have the confidence that with God and your faith anything is possible."
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